College Smiles

The Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Board and its president, Dr. Sarita Arteaga, awarded a scholarship to D-4 Daniel Rosales at the Greater New York Dental Meeting.

Rosales wrote an essay as part of the application process for the scholarship. In the essay, he wrote that he intends “to provide oral health care in the same underserved communities that I grew up in and to change the perception of dentistry.”

Reared in the Little Village area of Chicago, Rosales noted that in his community, “the perception of dentists in general was and still is a negative one.” However, he added, “Knowledge is power. Knowing the difference between an unhealthy mouth and the problems that can arise is the first step in changing the perception and importance of dentistry” in underserved communities.

After volunteering for a Global Brigades medical/dental mission to Panama, Rosales said, he “knew dentistry was for me. The instant relief and personal relationships I was establishing with the patients were priceless.” Global Brigades promotes global health and holistic development.

“Long-term health begins not with relieving someone’s immediate pain, but by enlightening these communities with the proper knowledge and resources to maintain a healthy mouth,” Rosales wrote.

Photo: Daniel Rosales (third from left) was one of the winners of HDA Foundation scholarships.

The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in oral health education, clinical care and research that is patient-centered and evidence-based, with a foundation in preventive and public health sciences. We are a part of UI Health.